Yarra Valley Water InFocus 2026 | Norwood

By Josh Ward.

The Norsemen senior men’s get a chance at redemption in Division One after a winless 2025 while its Senior Women’s will be looking to continue building on a successful return.

Last season saw Norwood compete in the second tier of the EFNL in 19 years after suffering relegation from Premier Division in 2024.

Despite some improvements throughout the year and patches of promise in games, the Norsemen went winless for the first time in 32 years last season.

Brett Moyle, who’s set for his third season as Norwood’s head coach, says so far this offseason the young Norwood men’s program is strongly committed and giving it a good crack.

“Off the back of one win in two years we haven’t really lost too many, which speaks to the resilience of the young men who haven’t taken the easy option and have decided to stick fat and stay,” Moyle said.

“We had a lot of guys who were under 21 who’ve played a fair bit of senior footy the past couple of years. Hopefully we get the benefit of that in the next year or two when they’ve had 20-30 games into them over the past two years.”

The youth is set to be bolstered by the inclusions of ex-AFL duo Logan Austin and Jesse Palmer as well as Jack McKay who won Upwey Tecoma’s Best and Fairest last year.

“To have those three come in (to help) the young side, there were definitely times over the last couple of years where opposition sides have gotten momentum and our young guys just didn’t deal well with the pressure.

“Just to have a few older and mature guys is definitely going to help us. Those guys who’ve played at a higher level have a significant talent level. All three are key position types too so we expect that those three will help us a fair bit.”

So far this offseason they’ve made great impressions on the current group of players, with Moyle particularly impressed by their guidance and support.

“Jack being able to teach a couple of our young ruckmen and key position guys about positioning, he’s almost like an on-field coach.

“Jesse’s got himself extremely fit so he’s going to be a pretty powerful player, now we just need to figure out where to play him. The fact that he’s 6' 3" and pretty big and powerful gives us a few options.”

Jack McCartney has also crossed over from East Ringwood alongside ex-Carey Grammar First XVIII captain Oleg Stecki, Jett Kean from Gunbower, ex-Tasmania U18 representative Anthony Volta and Richmond VFL-listed player Ned Renfree.

“We’ve recruited some younger players who we think are going to be pretty talented, but sometimes it’s hard to know how 18 or 19 year olds are going to go stepping into senior footy straight away…

“It’s also a bit difficult to know without having played practice matches to see where it’s all going to line up. I think we’re going to be a fair bit better, but we need to be a fair bit better just to get to the pack.”

And that is Moyle’s main objective this coming season in Division 1 - to become a better side after one win in the past two years.

“We’ve got to get past the point where we’re young and we try hard for a period and then get blown out in one quarter. We were pretty competitive for two and a half quarters a lot lastyear, but then the scoreboard still looks pretty ugly at the end of the day.

“We need to get past and start putting wins on the board, which I’m pretty confident that we can.”

Norwood kicks off 2026 with a home fixture against two-time Division 1 runners up Park Orchards before facing 2025 Division 2 Premiers Wantirna South in Round 2 away.

Norwood’s senior women’s program had almost the complete opposite season in its return to the EFNL women’s competition.

Competing in the newly-formed Division 5, Norwood only lost one game to Heathmont Blue during the entire season en route to its first ever women’s premiership.

This season will see Mick Caton and Steve Gregson lead the way as co-coaches following Tyler Benda’s departure.

Gregson, who boasts experience within the Eastern Ranges program, says he’s excited to take on another role with Norwood, this time in its senior ranks.

“I’m also Footy Ops for the Junior Club. When I got asked to do it, I needed help with it,” Gregson said.

“Mick’s a mate of mine and has coached at junior levels, his daughter’s playing and he’s quite busy with his work.

“When I got asked I said ‘well, how about I do it in a co-coaching capacity’ so we can split some roles up during the week and on gameday, make life a bit easier for both of us.”

The connection with the juniors, as well as with Benda, has helped Gregson transition into the role and build a stronger connection with them throughout the season.

“That (connection) was part of the reason behind me coaching as well, so the senior and junior clubs have that stronger connection.”

The preseason so far has continued to see numbers grow, particularly after the New Years Break and Australia Day long weekend.

“We had around 10 before Christmas, we sort of left that period open and had optional training sessions.”

“Then we started back up in February after the long weekend and it’s been gradually building from there. We had 20-25 on the track recently.

“It’s still a developing side, we’ve got some good young players, some more mature players that’ve been around a little bit. We’re slowly building though.”

Most of Norwood’s side from last year has committed heading into the season. However they’ll be without B&F winner Lily Ellis, who is studying in the UK this year, while leading goalkicker Abbey Chapman has departed for Park Orchards.

“We’ve had a couple that with work they can’t commit, but we’ve picked up a couple as well. Jasmine Gardner’s back…and we’re still working to try and boost the quality.”

There’s also players coming across to the senior women’s program that boast experience in different sporting backgrounds.

“We’ve got a girl that’s played a lot of soccer and she’s fantastic, really really good. It’s something new to her, she’s got the basics down but just teaching her the intricacies of kicking.

“Over the last six months she’s come a long way. She brings some game sense, she’s someone that is quite handy.”

Players from Norwood’s current Under 18s group, and last year’s premiership, such as Sienna Landy, Gregson’s daughter Ruby, Madison Kennedy and Emerson Smith are set to play key roles across both 18s and the senior side this season.

“They’re probably the core four of those younger players coming through, Tash Rochford’s another one. That young group is just going to carry through and play a mixture of 18s and seniors.”

With how young the side is, Gregson’s overall goal is to continue their development over the course of season 2026.

“We’ve got some girls that have only been kicking a footy for six months, and then we’ve got girls who’ve played at Eastern Ranges and some who’ve played for 10 years so we’ve got either end and a bit of a mix in the middle.

“If we can close that gap and make everyone middle to high, that’s our aim.”